What to expect in the Rams-Patriots Game

Things I’m expecting in the Rams – Patriots game is Brandon Lloyd having a good game. I thought he would have a good game vs the Jets and he would have if he would have made the catches. He had two big drops. I’m looking at it from this point of view. Lloyd vs the Seahawks was in on 82 of 87 plays. Against the Jets they took 3 deep shots to Lloyd. They finally tried him deep and he was open. Unfortunately he dropped the passes. I don’t think it should keep the Patriots from going deep to him though. They should continue trying to get him deep and get him the ball. He needs to make the plays and the catches which he is fully capable of.

I also expect Lloyd to have a big game because Welker will be covered by the wild veteran Cortland Finnegan. He is the Rams best corner back. I don’t expect Welker to have a huge game. He might move the chains a few times which will be great but I don’t think he explodes in this game. Lloyd will be covered by Jenkins. Jenkins had a bad game against the Packers. Jenkins gave up nine catches on eleven targets at him for 121 yards and a touchdown. I expect Brady to try to go after the rookie. I think more throws will go at Jenkins then Finnegan.

Since Aaron Hernandez is out of this game it also moves up more targets I think for Lloyd. If Welker gets good coverage from Finnegan like I think and Hernandez is out it leaves Gronkowski and Lloyd as the best weapons and red zone threats left. I also don’t expect the running game to do good against a tough defense so expect the Patriots to pass more which gives Lloyd more opportunities to perform in this game against a former team.

I expect the running game to not have a great day. I could be wrong on everything. But with this defense being good against the run and tough I don’t think the Patriots will have one of the better days rushing. I also think the Patriots game plan will be to throw a lot more then run. This game plan might be a lot like the one against the Seahawks just hopefully with some tweaks and better execution.

Gronkowski to have a good game. I don’t know if it will be huge or not but I defintley expect a solid outing from Gronkowski. He is the Patriots best red zone threat. The Patriots did look to get him more invovled in the red zone last week vs the Jets. He came away with two touchdowns. I expect him to get more looks in this game vs the Rams in the red zone. I would be surprise if he left London without a touchdown.

The defense to have a better over all performance. I’m not holding my breath with the secondary being better but the pass rush to be better. I can see the Patriots being able to get more pass rush on Bradford then they did a week ago vs the Jets. I think they will be successful at stopping the run. One of the best things they are good at is stopping the run. They will face a spilt backfield running game of the Rams. One running back (Richardson) is speed and the other is power(Jackson). They I think will get a healthy dose of Spikes spoiling the running game.

This is not something I’m expecting, more so hoping for. I hope Arrington is not playing much corner this game. He has had a rough season to put it midly. If he plays a lot Givens and Gibson may have big games. They may get in the end zone a few times. If he plays I hope he has his best game this season although I doubt it. I think maybe we will see Sterling Moore more in this game. Maybe even Marquice Cole gets some playing time at that corner spot.

McCourty to have another solid outing at safety. I love McCourty at safety. He is much better at safety then corner back because he gets to play the ball in front of him instead of behind him. We all know he is not the best at turning and looking for the ball. Playing safety gives him a better chance to use his play making skills. If the Rams throw on the Patriots I think it will have to go against our corners. Hopefully Wilson the rookie safety beside McCourty will do his part.

I hope in this game the Patriots either win big or have the chance to ice it and convert on that chance with a field goal or better yet a touchdown.

If the Patriots can finally ice a game and not let a team come back to win,tie,or even come close to winning it the Patriots fans can go in to the bye happy. In the great words of Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty the Patriots fan would be “Happy Happy Happy” heading into a nice bye week.